Black Dog Gallery

Jun Abe spent a decade working in multicultural kitchens, absorbing flavours and techniques from his colleagues. And it's reflected in the menu at his contemporary Japanese cafe, Black Dog Gallery. The changing menu weaves inspirations from all over; there's poke, ham katsu sandwiches and bulgogi among udon noodle soup, gyoza and traditional Japanese dishes. But people flock here for the fully customisable ramen, where you can choose your soup and selected toppings.

Abe is also an obsessive coffee drinker who loves to share his knowledge with customers. In addition to espresso – brewed using his much-loved La Marzocco machine with Amanti beans – there are batch brew and cold-drip options.

The space is small and modern with a large window facing onto the bustling Greenhill Road. Wooden tables on bright turquoise legs line the room, but decor is kept minimal to highlight the true centrepiece: Abe’s coffee machine, naturally.